Jobs for 16-Year-Olds

Jobs for 16 year olds prepare them to enter the workforce in a few years. They get to have a taste of what it is like to work with adults. They are also given more responsibility such as handling the cash register in stores. These jobs can be done either part-time during the school year or full time during the summer. Sixteen-year old employees are mandated to work not more than 3 hours on a school day or not more than 8 hours per week. For summer jobs, teenagers can work up to 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. The jobs listed below are perfect for 16 year olds who are looking for ways to earn money during their free time.

Office Clerk

Offices look for clerks who can do their correspondence and other tasks fit for 16 year olds. You may be asked to sort and file documents, help staff with age-appropriate tasks, etc. Working in an office will give you a bird’s eye view of what really goes on in the day of an office employee. Here you can decide early on if you want to work in the same environment in the future. Looking for a clerking job in an office can be done by asking around or looking for vacancies online.

Store Cashier

Sixteen-year olds can already be entrusted with the register. But you have to keep in mind that handling money requires focus and caution. You have to make sure that the change you give to customers are neither more nor less than what is expected. Likewise you have to see to it that the money that the customers will pay is enough for their purchases. This type of job will teach you about handling money and being responsible for it.

Waiter

This is one of the most popular jobs for 16 year olds. It is easy to do, and the pay is good. Being a waiter or waitress lets you interact with different types of customers. You will learn how to deal with different attitudes that you can use later on when you get to work after your studies. You will be responsible in taking food orders and putting them on customers’ tables as well as assist other customers to get seated and clean up afterwards. You can also be assigned in the kitchen and other tasks.

Library Associate

If you are into books, then being a library associate is the job for you. Not many teenagers nowadays like to read books, and not many want to work in a library. But if you are a book lover, then what better job can you do on your free time than helping the local librarian sort books and taking care of those being borrowed and returned. The best thing about working in a library is that you can peruse the books during your idle time. You can feed your mind with classics as well as contemporary books that you like.

Grocery Bagger

This is another one of the most common jobs for 16 year olds. Being a grocery bagger only requires you to be organized so that customers’ purchases are bagged properly and with their own kind. You get to interact with the staff and customers and learn how to deal with different personalities. You will also learn the ropes of the retail industry that you may apply later on in your adulthood.

Working either part-time or full time not only lets you earn money that will let you have a taste of financial independence, but your job will gear you for the real world. You will learn that not all jobs are all fun and games. You will experience disappointment, rejection and encounters with all types of people. You’ll learn how to overcome these experiences to become better in your job. Being a young member of the workforce is a privilege that not everyone gets. Landing a job at 16 should motivate you to be better at it and find ways on how you can earn more. But it comes with the responsibility of not taking your studies for granted. Although work and earning money is important, education is on top of the list.